Former South Carolina Governors David Beasley, a Republican, and Jim Hodges, a Democrat, have released a joint video endorsing Democratic candidate Dr. Annie Andrews in the state's tight U.S. Senate election against appointed incumbent Sen. Darline Graham. The rare crossover endorsement reflects a national trend of prominent Republicans backing Democrats in key midterm contests amid dissatisfaction with party leadership under Donald Trump.
Bipartisan endorsements for Annie Andrews
- ▪Democrat Annie Andrews' campaign reported that more than 100 Republicans have joined its 'Republicans for Annie' coalition, including Warren Norman, the son of Republican Representative Ralph Norman.
- ▪Former South Carolina Governor David Beasley, a Republican, and former Governor Jim Hodges, a Democrat, released a joint video endorsing Democrat Annie Andrews for U.S. Senate
David Beasley background and political views
- ▪In an opinion piece in the Post and Courier, former Governor David Beasley criticized the Republican Party under Donald Trump, stating the party's current state was heartbreaking and toxic.
- ▪David Beasley served as governor of South Carolina from 1995 to 1999 as a Democrat-turned-Republican before losing re-election.
- ▪Former South Carolina Governor David Beasley served as head of the United Nations World Food Programme from 2017 to 2023, during which the organization received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020.
Historical 1998 South Carolina election
- ▪Former South Carolina Governors David Beasley and Jim Hodges faced off against each other in the 1998 gubernatorial election, in which Hodges defeated Beasley.
- ▪Jim Hodges was the last Democrat to serve as governor of South Carolina following his victory in the 1998 gubernatorial election.
Darline Graham's Senate candidacy
- ▪Republican Senator Darline Graham was appointed to fill the South Carolina Senate seat following the death of her brother, Senator Lindsey Graham, in July 2026.
- ▪Darline Graham won the Republican special primary runoff for the South Carolina Senate seat, securing her place on the November 2026 ballot.
InsiderAdvantage polling on the Senate race
- ▪An earlier InsiderAdvantage survey conducted September 8-9, 2026 among 1,200 likely South Carolina voters put Darline Graham at 45.1 percent and Annie Andrews at 43.2 percent.
- ▪A September 28-29, 2026 InsiderAdvantage survey of 1,200 likely South Carolina voters showed Republican Senator Darline Graham leading Democrat Annie Andrews 46 percent to 45 percent, with almost 10 percent of surveyed Republicans supporting Andrews.
Other state crossover endorsements
- ▪In Texas, Democratic state Representative James Talarico launched 'Republicans for Talarico' supported by over 20 Republican officials, former state GOP executive director Wayne Thorburn, and members of the Bush family.
- ▪Former Republican Governors Bill Graves and Mike Hayden of Kansas endorsed Democratic candidate Rev. Adam Hamilton in his Senate race against incumbent Republican Senator Roger Marshall.
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